Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Charlotte Amalie Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Charlotte Amalie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,739 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,972 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,886 per month in Saint John Island vs $2,063 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

A family of three spends $10.0K per month in Saint John Island vs $2,154 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

Saint John Island costs about 191% more than Charlotte Amalie, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saint John Island and Charlotte Amalie sit above the global median – Saint John Island by 331%, Charlotte Amalie by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.15 $31.15

$24.59 $24.59

26.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$100 $100

47.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.93 $11.93

26.49%

Cappuccino

$9.19 $9.19

$7.69 $7.69

19.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.27 $2.27

57.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.29 $2.29

49.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$6.99 $6.99

-28.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$8.82 $8.82

-20.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.76 $2.76

12.68%

White Bread (500g)

$7.84 $7.84

$9.06 $9.06

-13.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

Eggs

$11.90 $11.90

$7.07 $7.07

68.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.16 $32.16

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.89 $32.89

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.72 $23.72

Apples (1kg)

$22.49 $22.49

Banana (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

Oranges (1kg)

$17.30 $17.30

Tomato (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

Potato (1kg)

$7.83 $7.83

Onion (1kg)

$7.69 $7.69

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.02 $5.02

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 $9.17

Wine (Bottle)

$22.72 $22.72

$19.96 $19.96

13.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.43 $4.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 $6.02

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.07 $7.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.76 $29.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.51 $1.51

7.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$47.0K $47.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$52.6K $52.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$299 $299

$297 $297

0.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$101 $101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 $103

$117 $117

-12.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 $78.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 $83.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,020 $4,020

$2,039 $2,039

97.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,531 $3,531

$940 $940

275.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,008 $5,008

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,513 $4,513

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,565 $4,565

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint John Island: June 15, 2026

Last update for Charlotte Amalie: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,020 in Saint John Island versus $2,039 in Charlotte Amalie. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in Saint John Island versus $100 in Charlotte Amalie. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $984 vs $186 – making Charlotte Amalie the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Saint John Island vs Charlotte Amalie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint John Island is pricier by about 191%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,609 per month in Saint John Island and $2,959 in Charlotte Amalie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Charlotte Amalie, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 428% more in Saint John Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in Saint John Island and $100 in Charlotte Amalie. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $5,739 in Saint John Island and $1,972 in Charlotte Amalie. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Charlotte Amalie – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Charlotte Amalie. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint John Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.